Ferguson himself hung some men; and though he did his best to spare the country people, there was much plundering and murdering by his militia.
In June he marched to upper South Carolina, moving to and fro, calling out the loyal militia.

They responded enthusiastically, and three or four thousand tories were embodied in different bands.

Those who came to Ferguson's own standard were divided into companies and regiments, and taught the rudiments of discipline by himself and his subalterns.

He soon had a large but fluctuating force under him; in part composed of good men, loyal adherents of the king (these being very frequently recent arrivals from England, or else Scotch highlanders), in part also of cut-throats, horse-thieves, and desperadoes of all kinds who wished for revenge on the whigs and were eager to plunder them.

His own regular force was also mainly composed of Americans, although it contained many Englishmen.